What does סָרַר (sōrēr) mean in the Bible?
סָרַר (sōrēr): Deliberate moral obstinacy—turning away from covenant obligation through willful resistance, not passive weakness.
Hebrew · H5637
סָרַר
To turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory
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סָרַרH5637
Pronunciationsōrēr
What does סָרַר (sōrēr) mean in the Bible?
סָרַר (sōrēr): Deliberate moral obstinacy—turning away from covenant obligation through willful resistance, not passive weakness.
Full entry for סָרַר (H5637) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5637?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a stubborn (4), the rebellious (2), [from] the rebellious (1), an obstinate (1), and defiant (1).
Where does סָרַר (sōrēr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 21:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (4), Hosea (3), Isaiah (3), Deuteronomy (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita stubborn4×Deuteronomy 21:18, Nehemiah 9:29, Psalms 78:8, Zechariah 7:11
the rebellious2×Psalms 66:7, Psalms 68:6
[from] the rebellious1×Psalms 68:18
an obstinate1×Isaiah 65:2
and defiant1×Proverbs 7:11
are hardened1×Jeremiah 6:28
are rebellious1×Hosea 9:15
are rebels1×Isaiah 1:23
as a stubborn1×Hosea 4:16
is as obstinate1×Hosea 4:16
is stubborn1×Deuteronomy 21:20
stubborn1×Jeremiah 5:23
to the rebellious1×Isaiah 30:1
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 21:18סוֹרֵ֣רtoa stubbornVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 21:20סוֹרֵ֣רtois stubbornVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNehemiah 9:29סוֹרֶ֔רֶתtoa stubbornVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularPsalms 66:7הַסּוֹרְרִ֓ים׀tothe rebelliousArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralPsalms 68:6ס֝וֹרֲרִ֗יםtothe rebelliousVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralPsalms 68:18ס֝וֹרְרִ֗יםto[from] the rebelliousVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralPsalms 78:8סוֹרֵ֪רtoa stubbornVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularProverbs 7:11וְסֹרָ֑רֶתtoand defiantConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularIsaiah 1:23סוֹרְרִ֗יםtoare rebelsVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralIsaiah 30:1סֽוֹרְרִים֙toto the rebelliousVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 21:18
Aligned rows17
Books represented8
Deuteronomy2Nehemiah1Psalms4Proverbs1Isaiah3Jeremiah2Hosea3Zechariah1
Source forms
סוֹרֵ֣ר3xsō·w·rêrDeuteronomy 21:18, Deuteronomy 21:20, Jeremiah 5:23
הַסּוֹרְרִ֓ים׀1xhas·sō·wr·rîmPsalms 66:7
וְסֹרָ֑רֶת1xwə·sō·rā·reṯProverbs 7:11
סוֹרֵ֪ר1xsō·w·rêrPsalms 78:8
סוֹרֵ֑ר1xsō·w·rêrIsaiah 65:2
ס֝וֹרְרִ֗ים1xsō·wr·rîmPsalms 68:18
סוֹרְרִ֗ים1xsō·wr·rîmIsaiah 1:23
סֽוֹרְרִים֙1xsō·wr·rîmIsaiah 30:1
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural6xPsalms 68:6, Psalms 68:18, Isaiah 1:23, Isaiah 30:1
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular5xDeuteronomy 21:18, Deuteronomy 21:20, Psalms 78:8, Isaiah 65:2
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular3xNehemiah 9:29, Hosea 4:16, Zechariah 7:11
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1xPsalms 66:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular1xProverbs 7:11
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xHosea 4:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Deliberate moral obstinacy—turning away from covenant obligation through willful resistance, not passive weakness.
Strong'sH5637
Lexical occurrences17 versesWord forms1 form15 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 4:11-19Source Gloss
to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Deliberate moral obstinacy—turning away from covenant obligation through willful resistance, not passive weakness.
to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory BDB: be stubborn Usage: × away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter(-ing), slide back, stubborn, withdrew.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
Participle activeDeut 21:18 · Deut 21:20 · Hos 4:16 · Hos 9:15 · Isa 1:23 · Isa 30:1 · Isa 65:2 · Jer 5:23 · Jer 6:28 · Neh 9:29 · Ps 68:7 · Ps 68:19 · Ps 78:8 · Zech 7:1114×
PerfectHos 4:161×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to be stubborn
Stubborn or resistant.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 17 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
סָרַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Describes covenant defiance in forming alliances apart from God.Hosea 4:11-19
Describes covenant rebellion.Isaiah 30:1-7
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.